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Transportation Secretary Duffy Mandates English-Only CDL Tests in Safety Crackdown
All commercial truck and bus drivers will soon be required to take their licensing tests in English as part of a sweeping safety initiative by the Trump administration aimed at removing unqualified drivers from American roadways.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced the new mandate Friday, emphasizing the federal requirement that drivers must understand English well enough to read road signs and communicate effectively with law enforcement. Florida has already implemented English-only testing for commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs).
The policy addresses a significant discrepancy in the current system. While federal regulations require English proficiency for commercial drivers, many states have continued offering license tests in multiple languages. California, for instance, provided testing in 20 different languages. Duffy noted that numerous states have outsourced their CDL testing to third-party companies that often fail to properly enforce language proficiency standards.
“When we get on the road, we should expect that we should be safe,” Duffy said. “And that those who drive those 80,000-pound big rigs, that they are well-trained, they’re well-qualified, and they’re going to be safe.”
This latest enforcement action comes just days after the Transportation Department identified 557 driving schools for closure due to substandard safety practices. The department has intensified scrutiny of state CDL programs following a fatal crash in Florida last August, where a truck driver – whom Duffy claims was unauthorized to be in the U.S. – made an illegal U-turn, resulting in three deaths.
Recent accidents have further heightened safety concerns, including a crash in Indiana earlier this month that killed four members of an Amish community. These incidents have put increased pressure on officials to tighten regulations in the commercial driving industry.
Under federal guidelines, states must verify English proficiency before issuing commercial licenses, and law enforcement is expected to evaluate drivers’ language skills during traffic stops or inspections. Drivers unable to communicate effectively are required to be removed from service. A recent federal inspection initiative examining 8,215 drivers resulted in nearly 500 disqualifications due to insufficient English skills. California initially resisted implementing the English requirements but recently removed more than 600 drivers from service.
Duffy acknowledged that problems within the trucking industry have been overlooked for decades. “Once you start to pay attention, you see that all these bad things have been happening. And the consequence of that is that Americans get hurt,” he said.
The safety campaign will now expand to prevent fraudulent trucking companies from entering the industry. Currently, companies need only pay $300 and provide proof of insurance to obtain operating registration, with audits potentially delayed for a year or more – and often conducted virtually rather than in person.
This system has enabled what industry insiders call “chameleon carriers” – companies that repeatedly register under different names to evade enforcement after crashes or violations. Dan Horvath, chief operating officer for the American Trucking Associations trade group, highlighted this persistent issue.
“What we think at ATA has happened over the years is that we have a lack of true enforcement and intervention with motor carriers that are in operation,” Horvath explained, noting that only a small percentage of trucking companies undergo comprehensive in-person compliance reviews.
Following the Indiana crash, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) took swift action, removing the employer’s operating authority and disqualifying two other linked companies. The Aydana driving school that certified the driver involved lost its accreditation, and immigration authorities arrested the 30-year-old driver from Kyrgyzstan for allegedly entering the country illegally.
In December, the FMCSA moved to decertify up to 7,500 of the nation’s 16,000 commercial driving schools, though many were already defunct.
The enforcement push aims to address sophisticated evasion tactics. Duffy cited the Indiana case where multiple companies were registered at a single apartment address. In more extreme cases, hundreds of these chameleon carriers might operate from one location, making enforcement challenging.
As the Transportation Department continues its regulatory tightening, the trucking industry faces unprecedented scrutiny regarding driver qualifications, company legitimacy, and road safety standards.
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6 Comments
This seems like a logical step to ensure all commercial drivers have the necessary language skills to operate their vehicles safely. While it may pose challenges for some, the priority should be on maintaining high safety standards for everyone on the road.
The new English-only CDL testing policy is an interesting development. While I understand the rationale, I wonder if there are creative ways to provide support and accommodations for non-native speakers rather than excluding them entirely. Safety should be the top priority, but flexibility may also be important.
As a frequent driver, I welcome any measures that can improve the competence and safety of commercial vehicle operators. Clear communication is essential, so I support the English requirement as long as it’s implemented fairly and with consideration for non-native speakers.
This seems like a sensible safety measure. Ensuring all commercial drivers have a strong grasp of English will improve communication and understanding of road signs, which is crucial for public safety. It’s good to see the administration taking proactive steps to raise the bar for CDL qualifications.
While I understand the rationale behind English-only testing, I wonder if there are ways to accommodate non-native speakers that don’t completely exclude them from these jobs. Perhaps offering additional language support or transition periods could help ensure safety without unduly limiting employment opportunities.
This new policy highlights the importance of language proficiency for commercial drivers. Being able to read road signs and communicate effectively is critical when operating large vehicles on public roads. I’m curious to see how this plays out in states that previously offered tests in multiple languages.